Machine for making bolts and the like



April 28, 1936.

w. L. CLOUSE 2,038,541

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOLTS AND THELIKE x Filed May 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet I Jrwentor 47 49 v I W/Ll/AM 1. CL. 0055 qrnegs April 28, 1936. w c ousE 2,038,541

Y MACHINE FOR MAKING BOLTS 'AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1933 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 5 3nnc ntor A9 w/u/A/v 1. 010055 attorneys Patented Apr. 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKING BOLTS AND THE LIKE William L. Clouse, Tiflin, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tiiiin, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 9, 1933, Serial No. 670,107

7 Claims.

This invention relates to bolt making machines of the type wherein each blank is subjected to a plurality of successive operations at different stations or dies, and is particularly concerned with a blank transfer mechanism for carrying the blanks from one station to another.

' In machines of this general type, it is desirable to perform an operation upon a blank at each die station during each cycle of the machine, and

to transfer each blank to the next successive station duringthe inoperative portion of the cycle,

- so as to produce a completed blank during each cycle of the machine. The purpose of this arrangement is primarily to attain as higha rate of production of completed blanks as possible with a minimum of intermediate handling. It is found,

however, that in many instances the limiting factor on the speed of production of multiple station machines of this type is the speed at which The purposeof the present invention is to provide a simple, rapid and eflicient blank transfer ,mechanism with blank gripping means moving through a relatively wide uniform curve from one station to another and approaching and leav ing the die stations at the most eflicient angle of incidence to facilitate the gripping and releasing of the blanks at the die stations. Other objects of this invention are: to mount the blank transfer mechanism in such a manner that the blank gripping means are brought into accurate alignment in one direction with the die stations at the opposite ends of the movement of the mechanism, and to provide a simple and easily manipulated adjustment to align the blank gripping means with the die stations in a perpendicular direction so that accurate registration of the blank gripping means with the dies may be readily obtained at all times; to move the blank gripping means in synchronism with the movement of the header slide in such a manner as to utilize to a maximum the available time for operation in the cycle of the header slide; to reduce the inertia forces to a minimum by maintaining the angular acceleration of the blank gripping means at a minimum and also by permitting a smooth acceleration and deceleration of the blank gripping means in the path of movement; and to provide a simple and economical means for operating the blank transfer mechanism in timed relation to the operation of the header slide, obtaining the desired movement in two directions withja single driving means; and to provide a simple, economical and eflicient spring finger construction for gripping the blanks.

the blank transfer mechanism can be operated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to details of construction and economies of manufacture will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate two embodiments of this invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the forward end of a bolt making machine with one embodiment of the transfer mechanism of this invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the face of the dies and transfer mechanism taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the blank transfer mechanism in a different position during its cycle of operation;

Figure 4 is a view correspondingto Figure 1 showing a different embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the front face of the dies and transfer mechanism taken substantially on a plane indicated by the line 5-5, Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, and; ,Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of one of the crank arms'of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I ll designates a bed frame of a bolt making machine having at its forward end a die breast II. A header slide i2 is slidably mounted in the frame III for longitudinal reciprocation and is provided with a plurality of punches or hammers l3, l4, and I5 arranged to co-operate with the dies l6, l1, and l8, respectively; which are mounted in the die breast ll.

The particular construction of the hammers l3, l4, and i5 and dies l6, l1, and I8 and the number of co-operating hammers and dies may be varied depending upon the particular operations to be performed and the process to be carried out. The present invention is particularly valuable, however, in connection with the type of machine disclosed inthe co-pending application of Earl R. Frost, Serial No. 639,054, filed October 24, 1932 and for the purpose of illustration the invention is shown applied to this type of 'machine. As disclosed in said application the header slide I2 is reciprocated within the bed frame M by means of a main crank shaft and connecting rod, and a cam shaft I9 is driven by the main crank shaft and atthe same speed as the crank shaft. When designed to carry out the process disclosed in said application, the die I6 is an extrusion die for extruding the shank portion of theblank and thehammer l3 functions to pressthe blank into said die.. The die I! is also an extrusion die to further extrude the thread re= ceiving portion of the blank and the hammer l4 of the blank to form ahead. The die |8 and hammer I5 operate to trim the head of the blank to the desired polygonal form. Suitable ejectors are also incorporated in the machine, driven by the levers 2|! to eject the blanks from the dies l6, W, and H3 at the completion of the operations thereon. p

In the general operation of the machine wire or rod stock S is fed through the bed frame by feeding means of any suitable type and engages an adjustable stock gauge 25. A cut-ofi arm 22, which may be of 'any suitable construction, is oscillated by a cam 23 mounted on the shaft IE to shear a blank of the desired length from the projecting end of the stock S and carry the blank over into alignment with the die I6. When the header slide l2 moves forward the hammer l3 engages the blank and presses it into the die It. As soon as the blank is engaged in the die I6. the cam 23 allows the cut-ofi arm 22 to return out'oi the path of the header slide and in position to permit another length of stock to be fed forwar to form the next blank.

The transfer mechanism of this invention is arranged to grip a blank when it is ejected from ends upon two crank pins 25 and 26. The crank pins 25 and 2'5 are carried upon crank arms 2? and 28, respectively, formed on the ends of shafts 29 and 3B journalled in the frame above the line of the dies 86, ill, and ill. The two crank arms are of the same length and are arranged to move and remain in the same angular relation to their respective centers of rotation to thereby oscillate the support 24. As shown in Figure 2 the support is at one extremity of its 'movement with the two crank arms 21 and 28 disposed in alignment and both extending horizontally to the right of the respective shafts 2'9 and 30. The shafts 29 and 30 are designed to be turned through degrees to carry the support '24 upwardly and to the left as shown in-Figure 2 and then downwardly until the crank arms 2? and 28 extend horizontally to the left of their respective shafts. The support is shown midway between the two extremities of its movement in Figure 3 in which the crank arms 271' and 28 extend substantially vertically above their shafts 29 and 3B.

Any suitable means, maybe employed to move the; crank arms 27 and 28 through a half revolution and to maintainthe two crank arms in the same'relative position with respect to their cen' ters of rotation. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 the shafts 29 and 30. are extended rearwardiy through the machine and are provided at their ends with spur gears 3| and 32, respectively. A bar 33 having rack teeth thereon meshing with the gears 3| and 32 is slidably supported on the frame and is arranged to be reciprocated to im-' roller 3? and rocks the lever 24.

, being ejected from the dies l6 and I1.

tent of the lateral movement of the support 24 is' aoaaeci 3d. The reciprocation of the rack 38 may conveniently be accomplished as illustrated in Figure 2 by means of a lever 34 having a slidable connection 35 with the end of therack $33, and

being pivoted to the frame as at 36 and carrying a cam roller 3?. A plate 38 having a cam groove 39 therein may be fixed to the shaft It so that as the shaft rotates the cam groove 3Q engages the The motion of the lever 34 is transmitted to the rack 33 and'is arranged to rotate the spur gears 3i and 82 through a half revolution first in one direction and then back in the opposite direction to oscil= late the support 28.

A set of transfer fingers is carried by the support 24 to carry blanks from the die It to the die Ill and a similar set is provided to carry blanks from the die I! to the die l8. Each set includes a finger 40 pivoted to the support 2% and a shorter finger 4| journalled on an eccentric stud 42 which in turn is journalled to the support 24. Each finger 40 carries .at its lower end a hardened wear plate 43 formed with a bevel at its lower end and each finger 4| carries a plate 44 formed with a spacing extension 45 at its upper end arranged to engage the plate 43 and at its a blank. Suitable means are provided to urge the two fingers 4B and 4| toward each other, such as the bolt 41 mounted on the finger ll,

lower end with a notch 46 to engage and position extending loosely through an opening in the finger 40 and carrying a compression spring 48. This spring meals is located below the eccentric stud 42 and tends to urge the two fingers 4G and 4t toward each 'other. The pivot for the finger 4G is located above the eccentric stud 42 and therefore the spring 48 acts on a longer lever arm of the finger 40 than of the finger 4B. The finger 40 is provided with an adjustable abutment screw 49 arranged to engage the finger ll about in line with the center of the rotation thereof to limit the movement of the finger it.

By reason of the location of the pivots and the spring, the latter holds the finger 4d swung toward the finger 4| with the abutment screw 49 in engagement therewith and also holds the finger 4| pressed toward the finger 4|) with the exten= sion 45 in engagement with the plate 43. When the fingers are pressed apart the finger 4| normally moves while the finger 40 remains stationary with the abutment screw 49 in engagement with the finger 4|. Should the finger 49 encounter any obstacle, however, or be in any other way impelled to move, it is clear that it will also rotate about its pivot point. In the embodiment shown two sets of fingers are utilized in order to produce the twotransfer steps. It will be understood, however, that one or any desired number of fingers may be used.

The driving means for the support 24 is timed with respect to the reciprocation of the header slide so that as the slide recedes from the dies and the blanks are ejected from the 'dies l6 and H, the fingers move downwardly and' to the left as shown in Figure. 3 and snap over. the blanks The exdefinitely fixed by the length of the crank arms 21 and 28. The abutment screw 49 on the finger 40 is adjusted so that the inner surface, of the plate 43 lines up exactly with the adjacent surface of the blank being ejected from the die. As the fingers engage the blank the finger 4| is pressed to the right and the blank seats in the notch 46 of the plate 44, the spring holding the movement to the left so that the fingers areie'ngaging the blanks, the direction of motion of the fingers approaches a straight line as indicated injFigure 3 since the crank arms 21 and 28 reach a substantially horizontal position at the end of the movement. This arrangement causes the fingers to be moving in a substantially vertical direction as they engage the blanks to facilitate the snapping of the fingers on to the blanks. When the fingers have snapped over the blanks being ejected from the dies l6 and I1 the'cam groove 39 stops the movement of the transfer mechanism and allows the same to remain stationary for an interval. During this dwell period the header slide continues to recede from the dies and the blanks are completely ejected so as to be free from both the dies and the hammers on the header slide and supported only by the spring fingers 40 and 4|.

As the header slide continues to recede the cam 39 moves the rack 33 to the left, as seen in Figure 2, causing the two sets of transfer fingers to rise up and move to the right in a semi-circular path, in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. This movement continues while the header slide completes its rearward movement and starts its forward movement. When the carrier 24 reaches the limit of its movement to the right the blanks carriedby the two sets of transfer fingers 40 and 4| are aligned with the openings in the dies and I8, so that the blank which was received from the die I6 is aligned with the die l1 and the blank which was received from the die I1 is aligned with the die 8,. At this point, with the crank arms 21 and 28in a substantially horizontal position,

as" shown"in"Figure 2, the hammers l4 and IS on the header slide engage theblanks and start to press them into the dies l1 and I8.

As soon as the blanks are engaged in the dies the carrier 24 starts its return movement with the two sets of transfer fingers moving upwardly and to the left along the paths and in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. The blanks being held against movement by their engagement in the dies, the fingers 40 and 4| are pressed apart and snap off of the two blanks. As the header slide continues to advance the blanks into the dies the carrier 24 continues its movement to lift the fingers out of the path of the hammers on the header slide so as to permit the blanks to be pressed completely into the dies andthe work upon thesame performed by the hammers. As the header slide starts to recede and the blanks again start to be ejected from the dies l6 and H, the fingers snap over. those blanks and repeat the cycle of operation.

The dwell portions in the cam groove 39 as illustrated are arranged substantially opposite each other, which arrangement is possible when the point at which the fingers snap on to the blanks and the point at which the-fingers snap-off of the blanks are equally spaced in respect to the rotation of the crank shaft. For blanks with a different shank length with respect to the length of stroke of the header slide, as for example, with relatively short blanks, it is necessary that the movement of the fingers to the left as viewed in Figure 2 take place through a smaller number of degrees of rotation of the shaft l9.

It will be understood that the two shafts 29 and 30 can be connected to move together by any convenient means, as by a link or'gears, and that the transfer mechanism can be driven by the ma- 50 of a pair of similar double armed cranks as shownin perspective in Figure 6. The stud shafts 51 which carry the cranks are journalled in the frame in substantially the same position as the shafts 29 and '30 in the embodiment first described. Each shaft 5| is provided with an arm 52 carrying a crank pin 53 which in turn carries an arm 54 upon which the main crank pin 50 is mounted. Thus each crank is provided with two crank pins 50 and 53 which are angularly spaced from each other about the center of rotation. I

A link 55 is journalled at its ends on the crank pins 53 of the two cranks. This link 55 and the support 24, which is journalled to the pins 50 of the two cranks, together constitute a parallelogram linkage, insuring the turning of the two stub shafts 5| in unison and avoiding all dead centers.

This arrangement for coupling the two cranks which carry the support 24 may conveniently be ,ner the two parallel connecting rods formed by the support 24 and the link 55 are journalled respectively on the crank pins 50 and 53 of the two cranks and the driving link 51 is likewise journal- ,led on the crank pin 53 of one of the cranks.

At one extremity of the travel of the support 24 the crank pins 50 are disposed to the right of and in the same horizontal plane as the shafts 5|, as shown in Figure 5, and the crank pins 53 are below the level of the shafts 5|. At this point the cut-off arm 22 is in its extreme right hand position, as shown in Figure 5, and the link '51 extends upwardly to the endof the arm 56 and to the right of the center of rotation of the shaft 5|. When the cut-oif'arm 22 moves to the left the end of the extension 56 travels in an arc and rotates the adjacent shaft 5| to the left by means of the link 51. When the cut-off arm reaches the opposite extremity of its travel the support 24 likewise is at the opposite limit of its motion and the crank pins 50 are disposed to the left of and in the same horizontal plane as the shafts 5|. At this time it will be evident that the crank pins 53 by reason'of their angular spacing from the crank pins 50 are disposed above the horizontal plane through the crank pins 5| and the link 51 therefore extends upwardly from the end of the extension 56 to its connection with the crank pin 53. When the cut-off arm 22 is again rocked to the right the support is againswung to the right by the rotation of the shafts 5| and the cycle of operation is repeated. It will be evident that the dead center positions are avoided by the connection of the link 51 to the crank pin 53 and the arrangement of the extension 58.

The springfingers for gripping and transien ring the blanks illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 are identical with those previously described in connection with Figures 1, 2, and 3. The timing of the mechanism in the embodiment shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 is efiectecl by the can: 23 which oscillates the cut=ofi arm 22. The cut-E arm and two sets or transfer fingers hold the blanks carried thereby in alignment with the dies it, ill, and 58, respectively, while the header slide advances and starts to press the blanks into these dies. The cut-0d arm and-the transfer mechanism are then moved out of the path of the it M6? slide, permitting the completion of the operations performed by the header slide and as the blanks are being ejected from the dies it, and ill the two sets, of transfer fingers snap over the same. At the same to the cut-ofi arm 22 clears the opening for the stock feed and a new length oi stock is fed through to form a new blank.

It will be understood that the connection of the two cranks to operate in unison by means or the link 55 may be used with a rack and gear driving arrangement as illustrated in Figures 1,

; 2, andB, or with any other suitable type of driving connection. It will also be understood that a gear connection between the cranks may be employed with the driving connection from the cutoil arm as shown in Figure or any other type of driving connection. Various other modifications and re-arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

- I claim:

1. in a bolt making machine, in combination, a plurality oi dies arranged in a straight line, a homer slide co-operating with said dies, a pair of ansularly spaced double cranks, mounted in a line on one side of said line of dies, a support'carrying blank gripping fingers pivoted at spaced points to corresponding arms of said two cranks,

and a link connecting the other corresponding armsol said cranks.

2 In a bolt making machine, in combination, a

' plurality of dies arranged in a stralghtline, a

header slide (ac-operating with said dies, 9. pair of angularly spaced double cranks mounted in a line on one side of said line of dies, a support cg, blank gripping fingers pivoted at spaced points to corresponding arms of said-two cranks,

. a link connecting the other corresponding arms comprising a carriage supported on spaced parallel cranks, a pair of gripping fingers pivotally supported by said carriage, spring means engaging said gripping fingers to urge the fingers toward each other in blank gripping position, and

an adjusting screw carried by one of said fingers engaging a part carried by said carriage to limit the pivotal movement of said fingers toward each other.

' 4. In amachine for making bolts or the like, a

- plurality 01' dies, means for transferring a blank from one die to another comprising a. carriage supported on spaced parallel cranks, gripping fingers of unequal length individually pivoted at spaced points on said carriage,'spring means en- 88-8 1 8 said fingers and urging the fingers toward each other into blank gripping position, an

aosasei adjusting means carried by one er and en= gaging said other finger adjacent its pivotal mounting, said adjusting means limiting the swing of the fingers toward each other and afiecting the alignment of said fingers with the die. 5, In a machine for making bolts and the like, in combination, a plurality of die stations arranged in a. straight line, ejectors for ejecting blanks from said stations, a header slide carrying tools to act upon blanks held in said die stations, means for cutting oil lengths of continuous stock and also carrying the same into alignment with the first of said die stations and transfer means for carrying blanks from one die station to another including a pair of rotatable members arranged parallel to and on one side of said line .02 dies, each of said members carrying a crank pin, a support journalled at Spaced points to said crank pins, and a plurality or sets of spring fingers carried by said support and projecting toward said line of dies, each or said sets of fingers being arranged to grip a blank ejected from one of said die stations and carry the same to another.

6. In a machine for making bolts and the like, in'combination, a plurality of die stations arranged in a straight line, ejectors for ejecting blanks from said stations, a header slide carnring tools to act upon blanks held in said die stations; means for cutting ofi lengths of continuous stock and also carrying the same into ahgnment with the first of said die stations, driving means for said last named cutting and carrying means, a transfer mechanism for carrying blanks from one die station to another including a pair of rotatahie members arranged parallel to and on one side oi said line oi dies, each of said members carrying a crank pin, a support journalled at spaced points to said crank pins anda plurality of sets of spring fingers carried by said'support and projecting toward said line of dies, each of said sets of fingers being arranged to grip a blank ejected from one of said die stations and carry the same to the next adjacent die station, and

driving means for said transfer mechanism lode-- pendent of said first named driving means.

7. In. a machine for making bolts and the like, in combination, a plurality of diestations arranged in a straight line, ejectors for ejecting blanks from said stations, a header slide carrying tools to act upon blanks held in said die stations, means for cutting off lengths of continuous stock and also carrying the same into alignment with the first of said die stations, driving means for said last named cutting and carrying means, a transfer mechanism rorcarrying blanks from one die station to another including a pair of rotatable members arranged parallel to and on one side of said line of dies, each of said members carrying a. crank pin, a support journalled at spaced points to said crank pins and a plurality of sets of spring fingers carried by said support and projecting toward said line of dies, each of said sets of fingers being ar-- ranged to grip a blank ejected from oneof said die stations and carry the same to the next adjacent die station, driving means for said transfer mechanism comprising a reciprocating rack, and pinion'gears secured to said rotatable members arranged in position to mesh with said rack, said I last named driving means being mounted for WILLIAM L. CLOUSE. 

